This piece was created in response to a Penguin Random House book cover competition for the middle grade novel City of Stolen Magic. The brief emphasized clarity of title placement and ample space for copy, both of which guided the composition and layout of the final image.

Although personal circumstances prevented me from submitting the piece before the deadline, I remained committed to completing it. To fully immerse myself in the story, I downloaded the free e-book provided to entrants and purchased the audiobook, allowing me to listen while I worked. This dual approach helped me absorb the tone, themes, and character dynamics, enabling me to distill the essence of the narrative into a single, compelling image.

The illustration was created entirely in Procreate on an iPad Pro using a second-generation Apple Pencil. It reflects my ability to interpret a manuscript visually, balance design constraints with storytelling, and deliver polished, print-ready artwork for middle grade audiences.